Franchise opportunities in Kensington (NSW), NSW
Geography: this report covers the Kensington (NSW) area (ABS SA2). Demographics from the ABS Census 2021.
How this opportunity score works
The score is a weighted 0–100 research signal, not a site-selection decision. It combines, per category:
- Demand (category fit for the population) — 30%
- Competition gap (trade-area model, more room scores higher) — 25%
- Demographic fit (income vs the category) — 20%
- 5-year population growth (percentile) — 15%
- Franchise availability (systems recruiting here) — 10%
Inputs: ABS Census 2021 (population, income, growth) and a trade-area competition model using OpenStreetMap / ABS business data where available. It doesn’t model rent, site specifics or local trading conditions, treat it as a starting point for research, then confirm on the ground and with the franchisor. See our methodology.
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For sale & open territories in Kensington (NSW)
263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Kensington (NSW):
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
Acai Brothers
Boost Juice
Auntie Anne's
Bakers Delight
Kensington (NSW) on the map
Where Kensington (NSW) sits and the real local businesses around its centre, the operators a new franchise would compete with. Tap a pin for the business name and type.
Loading nearby operators in Kensington (NSW)…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
3. Bakery & Dessert
47What it costs to start in Kensington (NSW)
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Kensington (NSW) best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Kensington (NSW) fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 52 |
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 51 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 47 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 45 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 45 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 43 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsKensington (NSW)’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Kensington (NSW) snapshot
| Metric | Kensington (NSW) | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,944 | 20,009 | -40% |
| Median household income | $110,100 | $100,267 | +10% |
| 5-year population growth | -24.0% | 13.0% | -37.0 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Kensington (NSW), and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Kensington (NSW) | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 2.3 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $2,117/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,743/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $946/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $500/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,800/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 1 | Denser housing, larger or shared households |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Kensington (NSW) (118021564). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Kensington (NSW) lives, works and is housed, and what each signal means for siting a franchise here. All figures are real ABS Census 2021 counts for this area.
| Measure | Kensington (NSW) | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 55.3% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 18.6% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 24.1% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 20.4% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 72.1% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 59.7% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 30.7% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 6% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Kensington (NSW), tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Hair & Barber viability: High
The hair & barber opportunity in Kensington (NSW) scores 52 out of 100. With a population of 11,944, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited hair & barber outlet. At about 1 existing hair & barber operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($110,100) runs above the state average ($100,267), supporting discretionary spend.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 1 | Low | Gap |
Operator counts are a trade-area model derived from ABS population, not a live business census. Richer POI data (OpenStreetMap / Google Places) is ingested per methodology.
How Kensington (NSW) compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington (NSW) | 11,944 | $110,100 | -24.0% | Hair & Barber | 52 |
| Campsie - North | 11,943 | $77,500 | -6.9% | Food & Beverage | 43 |
| Thirroul - Austinmer - Coalcliff | 11,912 | $126,000 | 1.9% | Hair & Barber | 61 |
| St Leonards - Naremburn | 11,993 | $142,900 | 7.8% | Food & Beverage | 67 |
| Wahroonga (West) - Waitara | 11,893 | $112,100 | 20.1% | Hair & Barber | 66 |
| Hornsby - East | 11,999 | $94,500 | -2.2% | Hair & Barber | 50 |
| Wagga Wagga - West | 12,025 | $66,500 | -4.1% | Food & Beverage | 40 |
Keep exploring Kensington (NSW) & New South Wales
By category in Kensington (NSW)
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Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Kensington (NSW)?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Hair & Barber scores highest for Kensington (NSW) at 52/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Food & Beverage and Bakery & Dessert.
How much does a franchise cost in Kensington (NSW)?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Hair & Barber franchises run $140,000–$380,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=65). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Kensington (NSW) good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 42/100 in Kensington (NSW), with about 2 existing operators in the trade area (Moderate suitability).
Demographics: ABS Census 2021 & Regional Population. Category scores combine ABS demographics with a trade-area competition model and live franchise availability, see methodology. Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index.
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